Having had his ranks bolstered by an injection of new signings during the off-season transfer period one might've expected Southampton Rangers coach Brian (Bulla) Anderson to be on cloud nine.

Yet while the former PHC Zebras and Devonshire Cougars midfielder expressed delight in having a few "quality" players now at his disposal, nothing, he stressed, will please him more than to see his team gain promotion to the top tier during the upcoming season.

"On paper things look very promising for us but it's results on the pitch itself that matter most and we are still a work in progress at the moment," Anderson said.

Rangers profited handsomely during the transfer period (see transfer list on Scoreboard, page 16) with pacy striker Rohaan Simons, keeper Michael Higgs and midfield schemers Travis Wilkinson and Reggie Lowe and cousins Janeiro, Kwame and Kamen Tucker among those returning to their roots at the South Shore-based club.

Rangers finished third in the league and reached the Shield final during Anderson's first term at the helm last season. But with the players he now has on his roster the dreadlocked coach sees no reason why his team cannot successfully go on to bigger and better things during the 2007-08 campaign.

"Our main goal from jump is to get promoted ... promotion has always been our ultimate aim," he declared. "And I fancy our chances just as good as anybody else's, if not, even more.

"It's really just a matter of getting the guys to the next level which is going to be a challenge. And if you look at the quality of players we now have anything less (then promotion) would be a failure."

Anderson is relieved to have the likes of Simons back in an attack that hasn't exactly sent chills down the spines of opposing teams in recent times. Simons has spent the past few seasons in the Premier Division with Somerset Trojans. And Anderson now hopes the player's repatriation to the Oval will be a profitable one in terms of hitting the back of the net.

"Rohaan (pictured) is definitely a valuable asset to the team. He brings lots of experience to the team and I think this is exactly what is needed at this time," Anderson said. Anderson is also looking for big returns from former Boulevard keeper Higgs and defender Kamen Tucker who will play pivotal roles in the 'Sky Blues' defence while veterans Janeiro and Kwame Tucker provide additional experience to the team.

"I think we are going to be in the running this season," Anderson said. "But first we need to improve on putting the ball in the net and keeping goals out at the other end. These are the areas I think we need to improve in.

"If we can improve in these areas then there's no reason why we shouldn't be successful next season."

Also on the way to the Oval is World Cup cricketer Malachi Jones who, along with the likes of Lowe, Wilkinson and Kamen Tucker, perhaps represent a brighter future for the 1991-92 Friendship Trophy champions.